What limits extension in the thoracic spine?

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Multiple Choice

What limits extension in the thoracic spine?

In the thoracic spine, extension is primarily stopped by the posterior bony elements coming into contact—the spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae approximate and can hit each other as you extend. Their downward-sloping, overlapping orientation in this region creates a natural block to further movement, so you feel the limit first there. The transverse processes and vertebral bodies don’t typically collide to limit extension, and while facet joints do contribute to stability, their orientation in the thoracic spine makes them less the main limiter of extension (they’re more involved in rotations and guiding movements). The rib cage also constrains motion, but the most immediate stopping mechanism in extension is spinous-process impingement.

In the thoracic spine, extension is primarily stopped by the posterior bony elements coming into contact—the spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae approximate and can hit each other as you extend. Their downward-sloping, overlapping orientation in this region creates a natural block to further movement, so you feel the limit first there.

The transverse processes and vertebral bodies don’t typically collide to limit extension, and while facet joints do contribute to stability, their orientation in the thoracic spine makes them less the main limiter of extension (they’re more involved in rotations and guiding movements). The rib cage also constrains motion, but the most immediate stopping mechanism in extension is spinous-process impingement.

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